Picks and Chews: A Barkery & Biscuits Mystery
By Linda O. Johnston
Midnight Ink
May 2018

Review by Cynthia Chow

Carrie Kennersly loves her part-time job as a part-time veterinary technician at the Knobcone Veterinary Clinic, almost as much as she adores owning her human and canine-catering bakeries. So she’s optimistic that the clinic is holding interviews for a retiring veterinarian, especially since the applicants were referred by her boyfriend, full-time clinic vet Dr. Reed Storme. Carrie’s hopes are immediately dashed by the unanticipated and unasked for arrival another of Reed’s former San Diego coworkers, the seductive and arrogant Raela Fellner. Reed had then found that her incompetency and lack of ethics outweighed her attractiveness, and Raela seems intent on her revenge by slandering the Knobcone Clinic and vowing to open her own competing one. Reed’s opinion of Raela hasn’t improved, and when she is found dead from an overdosed used to euthanize pets, he becomes the obvious suspect.

As much as Carrie admires Reed, even she has her moments of doubt over his innocence. While her greed and callous treatment of animals were detestable, Raela didn’t deserve to be murdered. Carrie’s impressive record of solving mysteries before the police means that she will not hesitate to find out the truth, and for once Reed is encouraging her endeavors. For the rest of the Knobcone community in the San Bernardino Mountains, Carrie’s predilection for detecting is as familiar as her miniature poodle/terrier Biscuit, so not even the police are surprised that Carrie hurtles herself in to the investigating the life of a woman who left so many unhappy men in her wake.

Carrie has a rather entitled attitude towards her involvement in murder investigations, but the results would seem to back her up. Even though she does nearly stumble upon the solution, readers will be hard-tasked with figuring out the solution before our pet-loving heroine. Her unwavering dedication to find the killer puts her on the receiving end of more than a few threats, but it also proves to be the push to force out a ruthless criminal. Animal lovers will appreciate the pet-adoption events that have her advocating for the rescue of so many lovable dogs, and mystery lovers will appreciate Carrie’s attempts to sway dog-owning police officers with Barkery delights. A recipe for Peanut Butter Dog Treats should have even reluctant bakers eager to indulge their fur-babies, and there’s even a brownie recipe included for the humans. Readers who enjoy their mysteries with a celebration of their furry companions will revel in the latest entry of this pet-centric series.

When you’re somewhat of a successful sleuth, what happens when your boyfriend is one of the top suspects in the most recent murder? That’s what Carrie Kennersly finds out when her boyfriend is accused of murdering a former colleague who has come to town. Lots of suspects, lots of speculation, but little that drew me in and captured my attention.

I found the story dragging on and the writing style clunky. While others complain of grammatical errors, ARCs clearly state that the book is not edited or in it’s final form. So that does not play a part in my review.

While it’s not my style, you may enjoy the book if you’re looking for a cozy series that is G rated.

When Carrie and Biscuit come to work to vet clinic one day, emotions are running high. Her boyfriend Dr.Reed is arguing with his former collegue Dr.Raela, who has come for an job interview and ugly words are said. Situation is defused but not long after, Dr.Raela ends up dead. Although Reed usually minds Carrie's ""investigation"" this time he needs her help.
Interesting mystery and a cleverly told story. Real treat for all animal lovers, especially dogs.
Bonus treat, scrumptious recipes both for humans and animals are included as well

This one wasn't really for me. The writing was decent, but it just didn't hold my attention.

I've loved the series up till this book, but felt Carrie was entirely too obnoxious with her investigating in this book. All of the other books in the series got 5 stars and I hate to give this one 4, but she just got annoying in this book. The mystery was still really great and I loved watching the relationships between the characters develop..

I did enjoy the pet aspect and the characters were diverse, however; the story did not have a steady flow. It appruptly came to an end without even a hint as to the rhyme or reason for the murderers actions prior to the unveiling. I like not being able to figure out who the culprit is, but I prefer to see a logical pattern in retrospect.

This is a good little cozy series that always includes some great recipes for both canine and human consumption. Carrie and Reed are dating and Carrie is busy running her two bakeries and working part time with him at the veterinarian clinic. The clinic is interviewing for a new extra doctor and when an ex colleague of Reeds is found dead, he becomes the prime suspect. The small pet loving town expects Carrie to solve the murder and get everything back to normal.

The characters were ok but they were more caricatures of the navy man, dismissive cops, etc. This one didn't do it for me

Pick and Chews is a great cozy mystery. The author is new to me and I enjoyed her writing..

This book follows Carrie and her friends and family. In this one Reed is trying to help hire a new veterinarian when someone from Reed's past comes back to make trouble in a big way Dr Raela Fellner is determined to undermine the local vet hospital anyway she can. Before she can implement her plan she winds up murdered in her own vet. clinic. Did Reed kill her? Or was it one of her other previous co-workers? Carrie is determined to figure out who injected the lethal dose. Can she figure it out in time or is Biscuit about to be a victim of murder?

I enjoyed seeing what everyone is up to in this series. We got to see how things have been going or not going so to speak! When Reed ends up in trouble Carrie really comes through to figure out what is going on. I really thought it was a great animal cozy mystery for those animal lovers out there who love a great mystery. I even found myself surprised at the end!

Really good read. Great characters and story lines. Will have to read more from this author

Pick and Chews is the fourth installment in the Bakery and Biscuits Mystery series located in the small town of Knobcone Heights and featuring baker and vet technician Carrie Kennersly. Things are going well for Carrie; both her human and pet bakeries are doing a brisk business, her part time job at the veterinarian hospital is keeping her close to boyfriend Reed Storme and her joint adoption events with the Mountaintop Rescue have been very successful.

With the retirement of Dr. Angela Regles from the vet practice, Dr. Arvus "Arvie" Kline is interviewing applicants and the two forerunners are former coworkers of Reeds from San Diego. Suddenly Dr. Raela Fellner appears - also a former coworker of Reeds who hints at more than just a professional relationship with him. It quickly becomes apparent that there is no love lost between the doctors and realizing that she will not be offered a position with the group she threatens to open a competing veterinary practice in the small community. With her nasty attitude and threats to ruin the other doctors it comes as no surprise when she's found dead; killed by a dose of pentobarbital.

With Reed and the other vets as well as herself considered suspects, Carrie sets out to find Raela's killer. Main characters of the series return including Carrie's brother Neal, the bakery staff, Detectives Wayne and Bridget and Councilman Billie Matlock. Carrie's adorable dog Biscuit and many new furry friends are featured throughout.

I enjoy this series but this latest was my least favorite. The relationship between Carrie and Reed is not a warm and fuzzy one that will have readers rooting for the two to make a permanent commitment, the way that Carrie treats her "assistants" at the bakeries is also not normal, instead of recognizing them as employees that have been with her since day one she continues to treat them as if it's their first days on the job. Also, as a part time vet tech she definitely oversteps her boundaries bossing other people around. The grammatical and typographical errors were very distracting (but I will chalk those up to being an advanced reader copy with the hopes they are corrected before the book goes to publication) and there just seemed to be a lot of unresolved loose ends. I'm not going to give up yet on the series and will look for the next adventure of Carrie and Biscuit.

I received an advanced copy of Pick and Chews from NetGalley via Midnight Ink. While not require to write a review I am more than happy to offer my honest opinion.

This is a solid mystery from Linda O. Johnston. Her main character, Carrie, navigates through another mystery - this time surrounding her boyfriend, Reed. Her love for animals -- and perhaps her boyfriend -- guide her to a satisfying conclusion. I loved both the dog and human recipes at the end of the book.

I really wanted to liked this cozy mystery and the blurb contained all the elements that I like in cozy.
Unfortunately I was not able to feel engaged by the plot and was a bit annoyed by how the victim was described.
She seemed to be the embodiment of the wicked career witch, seduction included.
On the other side I did not like the heroine or her paramour as well. Everything was a bit forced and the romance seemed to be very cold.
I wanted to end it to see who the culprit was but it was really tiresome.
The rating should be 2.5 stars.
Many thanks to Midnight Ink and Netgalley

I understand this is an ARC, but the number of errors in this book were astounding. Phrases reused, information repeated several times, awkward wording and a few plot holds were too prevalent for me to keep reading.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to read this book!

Ouch. The awkward moment where a book that should tick all the boxes ends up ticking none and you cannot wait for it to be over. Let me start by saying this is my first Linda O. Johnston book, although I have had them on my radar for many years. I even put the first book in this series on my Christmas wish list (Kind of hoping they pick one of the 50+ other options now) So I went into this with high expectations. They all came falling down.

Let it be said, I DESPISED the writing. Like, beyond despised it. It was clunky, repetitive and just gernally awkward. There was no pleasure in reading any of it. Then the main character, Carrie, grated on me something chronic, and her boyfriend Reed was the least romantic main character I've ever read. Every moment they are together there is no chemistry or warmth, just this stilted oddness. I hated it.

My edition either has formatting issues or my Kindle can't process it, because
whole sentences
looked like this and it made my brain
hurt.

^Yep, exactly like that. Words also had random gaps in them; like the word 'that' was written numerous times as 't hat'. What is a t hat?

There was one moment, and this really isn't a spoiler, where Carrie leaves the Bakery/Barkery and DISTINCTLY remarks that her dog Biscuit would be better off left there while she goes to a meeting. The meeting ends, Carrie hangs back to talk to the police, and then merrily heads out to the Doggy Day Care out the back that she has already said Biscuit didn't go to today, and magically picks up Biscuit. Biscuit can teleport.

Then well, you can't have a cozy mystery without the mystery part. The dead body (and the character had a giant neon light on her head screaming 'KILL ME. I'M THE VICTIM' for pages before the discovery) didn't die until over 30% of the book was done. That was 30% of Carrie nattering away, and I just can't even. I won't.

So my disappointment is complete. This was the biggest disappointment read of the year for me, because I was beyond happy about getting accepted for this on Netgalley. -Sigh- BUT, I have seen reviews now that I've finished book one regarding her other series, and they are meant to be better. I never want to go sleuthing with Carrie again (if you can call it that. At one point she takes her suspects to dinner and basically just asks 'Did you murder her?' no naunce. No skill. Ugh.) But I may in future try another of this author's works. Please don't disappoint me. :(

I adored this book. The characters growth from the last one in the series was evident. A decent mystery, a little romance, furry friends and tasty food. Who could ask for more!